New entries this year include BuzzFeed's Jonah Peretti and Ben Smith, Vice Media's Shane Smith and Gawker's Nick Denton.

11 percent:Ratings growth from first-quarter 2014 (3.2 million total viewers) compared with the same period a year earlier

Why they matter: The broadcast morning show that stays out of Page Six has continued to build a small but loyal following in its third year. "I was at the airport, and a woman came up to me and said, 'I like watching you guys because every day I learn something new,' " says King, 59. The anchors are encouraged by the increasing receptiveness to their program's signature refusal to shy away from hard news in the morning. "We all have a great curiosity about people and about what's happening around the world, and it's heartwarming that there's a growing audience for that," says O'Donnell, 40. Adds Rose, 72, "CBS has created a brand that says something important in morning television and, most importantly, something significant in journalism."

Big get: In recognizing the show for broadcasting excellence, the Peabody Awards called Rose's exclusive September sit-down with Syrian president Bashar al-Assad "the biggest journalistic get of 2013."

Chemistry lesson: "I think it was JohnnyCarson who once said, 'It's hard to talk about comedy, you just have to do it,' " says Rose. "It's so apparent and authentic." O'Donnell agrees that the trio's easy rapport is hard to describe: "If you could bottle it, you'd make a billion dollars!"